Dasyscopelus obtusirostris (Tåning, 1928)
Bluntsnout lanternfish
photo by Shao, K.T.

Family:  Myctophidae (Lanternfishes), subfamily: Myctophinae
Max. size:  9 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  bathypelagic; marine; depth range 0 - 700 m, oceanodromous
Distribution:  Eastern Atlantic: Mauritania to Angola. Western Atlantic: USA to Argentina. Indian Ocean: between 7°N and 12°S. Western Pacific: north and south, east to about 105°W. Tropical waters of the three oceans (Ref. 47377). South China Sea (Ref.74511).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 12-14; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 18-19
Biology:  Neustonic at 1-125 m at night (Ref. 58302). High-oceanic, mesopelagic (Ref. 4479, 75154). Found between 325-700 m during the day; nyctoepipelagic at the surface and down to 125 m. Sexually mature from about 74 mm (Ref. 4479).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 11 July 2012 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.